WEBVTT IN SUPPORT OF IDURING A ONE HEIL MARCH THROUGH SOME OF THE ROUGHEST BLOCKS IN BALTIMORE, STUDENTS AND YOUTH ADVOCATES APPLAUD A NEW CITY SPONSORED PROGRAM, THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH FUND.>> A LOT OF THESE YOUTH FEEL UNLOVED, UNWANTED UNIMPORTANT.IT'S IMPORTANT TO CHANGE THAT.ADAM: THEY STARTED THE FUND LAST YEAR.THEY ORGANIZED THE RALLY ON HOW THE MONEY WILL BE DISTRIBUTED.>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A $12 MILLION PER YEAR FUND THAT COMMUNITY WILL ALLOCATE.NO ONE IS DOING THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.IT IS TRULY UNIQUE.ADAM: AT FREDERICK DOUGLAS HIGHSCHOOL AFTER THE MARCH, A DETAILED PRESENTATION LAID OUT HOW A PANEL OF COMMUNITY MEMBERSAND YOUTH VISORS WILL SELECT WHOWILL GET GRANT MONEY.AFTER THE 2015 RIOTS, CONCERNS WERE RAISED BY MANY IN THE COMMUNITY OVER THE LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY'S YOUTH.PRESIDENT JACK YOUNG'S IDEA FOR THE FUND IS SUPPORTED BY CONGRESSMAN ELIJAH CUMMINGS.>> WE NEED SOMETHING LIKE THIS SO THAT, NUMBER ONE, THESE FOLKSWHO HAVE THE PASSION TO LIFT OURCHILDREN UP CAN DO IT AND, NUMBER TWO, IT'S ALSO BEING ABLETO GROW SO THAT YOU CAN GO TO PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS AND GET MONEY.ADAM: PROGRAMS THAT CAN BENEFITIS THE SAFE ZONE WHICH PROVIDES CHILDREN IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD PLAGUED WITH CRIME A SECURE ENVIRONMENT.>> IT WILL SUSTAIN US.WITHOUT THE DONATIONS THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW, MY BIGGEST FEARSIS THAT THESE KIDS WILL TURN THEDOOR KNOB AND WE NOT BE HERE.ADAM: NOW ASSUMING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CONTINUES MOVING FORWARD, A PANEL WILL BEGIN MEETING IN JANUARY AND THEN SOMEOF THOSE SMALLER NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR CASH FOR MANY OF THEM FOR MANY YEARS COULD START SEEING MONEY SOMETIME IN THE

An event at Frederick Douglass High School launched a first of its kind program in the country. The Children and Youth Fund will serve as an attempt to be part of breaking the cycle of violence, under-education and poverty in the city.

The issues are extremely complex, but the program could end up a key component, and Tuesday night hundreds rallied in support of the new initiative. During a one-mile march through some of the roughest blocks of Baltimore, students and youth advocates applauded the new city-sponsored program.

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"A lot of these youth feel unloved, unwanted and unimportant, and it's important for us, as a community, to change that," said Shahem McLaurin, with the Baltimore Start Project.

City voters approved the fund last year. Councilman Zeke Cohen helped organize the rally in advance of final council approval on how the money will be distributed.

"We're talking about a $12 million per year fund that the community will allocate. Nobody is doing that across the country. It is truly unique," Cohen said.

At Frederick Douglass High School after the march, there was a detailed presentation laid out how a panel of community members and youth advisors will select who will get grant money.

After the 2015 riots, concerns were raised by many in the community over the lack of opportunities for the city's youth.

City Council President Jack Young's idea for the fund is supported by Rep. Elijah Cummings.

"We need something like this so that No. 1: These folks that have passionate to lift our children up can do it, and No. 2: It's also being able to grow, so that you can go to philanthropic organizations and get money," Cummings said.

Programs that could benefit include the Penn-North Kids Safe Zone, which provides children from the surrounding neighborhood, plagued with crime, a secure environment.

"What this youth fund could do for us is sustain us. Without the donations I have right now, my biggest fear is that my kids will turn the doorknob and we not be here," said Ericka Alston Buck, with Kids Safe Zone.

Planning teams for the fund will begin meeting in January. The money could start getting in the hands of the smaller neighborhood organizations later in the year.

Baltimore residents learning about new Children and Youth Fund to support new opportunities - citizens wil control grants - good turn out shows hunger for this type program @wbaltv11pic.twitter.com/xnfrZcK5BT